Towson University

Stratus goes live in less than two weeks

After July 1, Tiger Travel will no longer be available, and PeopleSoft Financials access will be limited to users performing year-end activities and reporting. Complete training now for any modules you plan to use after go-live. Supervisors, cost center managers and financial stewards must complete training for all modules before go-live on July 11.

A Single System for Invoices

Stratus puts all invoices in one place where you can view, check funds, code and approve. Robust self-service capabilities enable you to research past invoices and reroute current ones to different departments—all while staying in Stratus. The reduced back and forth with Accounts Payable means improved efficiency for you and quicker processing times for everyone. Watch the training video below, then read on for more information on Stratus payables.

Approvals

The approval workflow will be the same for all invoices, regardless of amount. Approval will be required by the cost center manager and financial steward. Invoices will be sent to both approvers at the same time to streamline the process, with approvers receiving an email and bell notification to alert them of the pending approval. See how to enter and approve an invoice, or search for a past invoice. After reviewing the self-help docs, test your payables skills in the training environment. Use the “Company Single Sign-On" button to log in with your TU username and password.

Roles

In Stratus, anyone can enter account coding and provide backup documentation for invoices. Departments may choose to designate one person to handle these tasks, or keep the responsibility spread out. We encourage supervisors to establish their own processes based on what works best for their department. If your department designates a single contact, make sure to inform Accounts Payable.

Tips & Tricks

Take note of several new terms related to invoices. Speed types are now known as alias, the department charged for the account is now the cost center, and the vendor is now the supplier. Code blocks have been replaced by the distribution combination, which includes the distribution and account coding. Access the Stratus Glossary for a full list of new terms, or review the new terminology and crosswalk in the Chart of Accounts training resources.

Learn More

Access training materials, FAQ, the Stratus glossary and more on the Stratus Training webpage. Contact the project team with general questions or a change agent with specific questions about a process for your office. For assistance after completing training, sign up for a one-on-one session with a Stratus expert.

Project Update: Reporting

Stratus reporting is replacing PeopleSoft nVision, providing several different reporting methods and tools for creating and executing reports. Many Stratus reports have already been developed for the campus and will be available at go-live, including budget-versus-actual reports for all types of cost centers as well as reports showing transactional details such as the DAT/NAT, DPR/NPR, P and F. Work on campus reporting is still in progress and all reporting tools are being reviewed to identify the optimal solution for our campus and core offices. Report development will continue well after go-live to ensure all reporting needs are met. Report training materials are in development and user training will be available in July.

For more information on how Stratus is modernizing, standardizing and simplifying TU’s business processes, visit the Stratus website or email the project team.